Short Courses by CIT Solutions

Common signs of mental health troubles in your workplace

It’s estimated that 45 percent of Australians will experience a mental health problem in their lifetime and less than half of the people experiencing these problems seek help¹.

Mental illnesses are the third leading cause of disability burden in Australia²; followed closely by heart disease, diabetes and chronic pain as the most common conditions managed by General Practitioners³. Discussions about mental health can no longer be ignored or swept under the rug, especially in the workplace.

Mental health in the workplace has gone relatively unnoticed or talked about. This is due to a number of reasons, one of which is the stigma that still surrounds the topic of mental health today. Sufferers stay quiet out of fear of being misunderstood, judged or treated differently by their peers and colleagues.

In a recent report by TNS, The State of Mental Health in Australian Workplaces, a mentally healthy workplace is just as important to the Australian employee as physically safe workplaces. The report indicates that at any given time, around one in five Australian employees experience a mental health problem and take time off work because they feel stressed, anxious, depressed or mentally unhealthy.

The most common mental health conditions affecting Australian employees and their workplaces are anxiety and depression. Equipping yourself with the knowledge and the ability to identify the signs and symptoms of someone in need could make a significant difference in their life and your own.

What are the signs and symptoms to look for?

Everyone experiences anxiety and depression differently, so this information should be used as a guide only. Further, having these symptoms doesn’t necessarily mean you or your colleague at work has anxiety or depression so it’s important to seek a Mental Health First Aider for advice. For an accurate diagnosis, seek a mental health care professional.

Anxiety:

The symptoms of anxiety can be hard to pin down and it’s more than just feeling worried or stressed. While stress is a natural response to a situation where we feel under pressure, it’s usually transient and limited to the situation.

Anxiety is when these feelings don’t go away, they seem to linger without any particular reason or cause.

Some common, general symptoms include:

Avoiding certain situations, people or tasks

Obsessive thinking or worrying

Tightness in chest

Racing heart

Excessive perspiration

Shortness of breath

Dizziness

Compulsive behaviour

Depression:

We all feel sad or low from time to time but some of us have these feelings for long periods of time, even up to years, and sometimes without any apparent reason. Depression is more than just feeling moody and people with depression usually experience symptoms for more than two weeks across the following categories:

Behaviour—not being able to complete tasks, having difficulty concentrating, not wanting to go out to socialise, withdrawing from friends and family and relying on substances to feel better.

Every workplace should promote good health amongst their employees, establish strategies to prevent mental illness and prepared their employees with the tools to support people with a mental health problem.

Join over half a million Australians helping to heal mental health in the workplace by becoming an accredited Mental Health First Aider.

Short Courses by CIT Solutions offers Mental Health First Aid (Standard) training that educates adults on how to provide initial support to individuals who may be displaying signs of a mental illness, experiencing a worsening of a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. The course will develop the learner’s knowledge on identifying the signs and symptoms of individuals suffering a mental health issue.

Learners who complete the course and pass the assessment will be accredited against Mental Health First Aid Australia’s Guidelines.

For more information about anxiety and depression, take a look at Beyondblue’s information booklet. If you or a colleague is experiencing signs or symptoms of either of the conditions discussed, it’s recommended you contact a mental health care professional. The information is provided as a guide only to help build awareness of those experiencing a mental health problem in their workplace.